Can't connect to 115V shore power

[michealwhela]

New owner here. Coach tested and worked fine at the dealer on 30 amp connection. Get it home (no 30 or 50 connect here...yet) attempt to plug into a 20 amp 115 circuit and it cuts the GFI right away. Can't figure what is connected inside the coach that would draw that much juice. Would like to use inverter/converter to charge coach batteries. Any thoughts why or where to look so I can connect to 115?? For now the ol extension cord and battery charger is connected.

[Chargerman]

You need to plug it into a non-GFI outlet and you will be fine

[PJStough]

My understanding is that a GFCI does not measure load, but checks for "leaking" voltage. Many people have had this problem. I am sure smarter people that I will come along for a better explanation.

[michealwhela]

Originally Posted by Chargerman

You need to plug it into a non-GFI outlet and you will be fine

Thanks, never had that problem with my old Winnebago. Not even sure if I have a non GFI in the garage. Have to do some looking.

[Chargerman]

Agreed. I have heard the reasoning behind it but I cannot recall it.

[garykk]

Originally Posted by Chargerman

You need to plug it into a non-GFI outlet and you will be fine

+2 , house GFIs do not work well with RV wiring.

[kenandterry]

Originally Posted by garykk

+2 , house GFIs do not work well with RV wiring.

Yup.

[bucks2]

As you work thru this problem, (the answer probably being the GFCI), think about the amperage available in that outlet too. Many outlets are on 15 amp circuits, some, like your clothes washer are probably 20 amp circuits. Newer homes typically have 20 amp circuits in the garage but many older homes may be only 15 amps. Use a good heavy duty extension cord and try a few different outlets if you can.

[flywithcoop]

There are a lot of possibilities as the why you are tripping the GFCI circuit. All of your Garage and outdoor outlets are probably connected to one GFCI outlet. Some outdoor outlets are connected to your bathroom GFCI circuit. Anyway you are drawing more amperage then the rated amperage of the GFCI circuit. You could try plugging the RV into a inside wall outlet and see if that works. Make sure you are using a good heavy duty(12 gauge wire) extension cord. I had the same problem when I switched from a 30 amp Winnebago Adventurer to a 50 amp Tiffin Allegro 36LA. The best thing to do is have a 50 amp Outdoor outlet installed to power your RV. A very nice Outdoor 50 amp power box is sold by Home Depot, Lowes, and Amazon for around $30. A 50 amp circuit breaker in your home electric power panel ($15) and the appropriate length of 6 gauge 4 wire cable from the breaker panel to the outside box. You could use 8 gauge wire cable if the distance between power panel and outside power box isn't too long. The longer the distance the heavier the cable needed. The cable is the expensive part. Then you have all the power you will ever need for your RV and any other thing you want to plug into the 50 amp power box using the appropriate adapters. You don't need all the fancy expensive power boxes that have a 50 amp/30amp/20amp outlets in them.

[UFO Pilot]

I believe your Tiffin RV came from the factory with a built in surge guard. Surge guards don't play well with GFI circuits.

[cavie]

GFI's outlets do not trip with overload. they trip with leakage. 2 Gfii's don't play nice together. Garage outlets in newer homes are all GFI'ed. You washer may not be if in the garage. What you can try is tripping the GFI in you trailer and the problem may stop. Please try that and let me know if it works. I'm testing a theory.

[cavie]

Originally Posted by flywithcoop

There are a lot of possibilities as the why you are tripping the GFCI circuit. All of your Garage and outdoor outlets are probably connected to one GFCI outlet. Some outdoor outlets are connected to your bathroom GFCI circuit. Anyway you are drawing more amperage then the rated amperage of the GFCI circuit. You could try plugging the RV into a inside wall outlet and see if that works. Make sure you are using a good heavy duty(12 gauge wire) extension cord. I had the same problem when I switched from a 30 amp Winnebago Adventurer to a 50 amp Tiffin Allegro 36LA. The best thing to do is have a 50 amp Outdoor outlet installed to power your RV. A very nice Outdoor 50 amp power box is sold by Home Depot, Lowes, and Amazon for around $30. A 50 amp circuit breaker in your home electric power panel ($15) and the appropriate length of 6 gauge 4 wire cable from the breaker panel to the outside box. You could use 8 gauge wire cable if the distance between power panel and outside power box isn't too long. The longer the distance the heavier the cable needed. The cable is the expensive part. Then you have all the power you will ever need for your RV and any other thing you want to plug into the 50 amp power box using the appropriate adapters. You don't need all the fancy expensive power boxes that have a 50 amp/30amp/20amp outlets in them.

GFI outlets do not trip on amperage overload.

[PJStough]

On one occasion we were trying to connect to a 20 amp circuit that was a GFCI and it would kick out the GFCI until I shut off the breaker to the converter/charger.

[flywithcoop]

Originally Posted by cavie

GFI outlets do not trip on amperage overload.

You are right. The leakage was so great that the GFCI outlet tripped. No leakage until the A/C was turned on.